AirlinesThomas Cook Aviation files for administration

03.04.2020

Condor

German subsidiary airline Thomas Cook Aviation has reportedly filed for administration, after the company lost all of its customers.

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Due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, the next airline had to file for administration. German carrier Thomas Cook Aviation, which had its offices in Oberursel reportedly lost its last customer due to the renewed travel restrictions and the decreased travel demand.

The airline flew for German carrier Condor in the past years and served flights to holiday destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Thomas Cook was established in October 2017 as Air Berlin Aviation GmbH went bankrupt. Several months later, in January 2018, the airline received its Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

Despite the collapse of parent group Thomas Cook in September of last year, Thomas Cook Aviation continued to fly as usual in partnership with Condor. Thomas Cook Aviation flew with a fleet of six Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft.

Ralf S. Nagel, CEO at Thomas Cook Aviation said: “Condor cancelled the contracts that were valid until 31 December 2021“. Condor was expected to be taken over by the Polish Aviation Group, in which Lot Polish Airlines is, too. But after the ongoing Coronavirus-crisis, the takeover was in doubt.

Just like Thomas Cook Aviation and the Thomas Cook Group, Condor also struggled with its finances over the past months and years. After a planned takeover by Lufthansa failed, the carrier found a new owner in the Polish Group.

Thomas Cook Aviation took over its first Airbus A320 aircraft in December 2019, after Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics went defunct. Shortly after, Condor announced that it will update the livery by removing all references of the former operator.

According to Nagel, at the beginning of March this year six possible investors had given “non-binding offers” for Thomas Cook Aviation. The CEO said that the company was in advanced contract talks. But then, the virus started to spread, and everything began to fall apart.

Condor operates with a fleet of 10 Airbus A320s, 10 A321s, 10 Boeing 757s and 15 B767-300s. According to aviation news, the Boeing 757-200s and 757-300s could leave the fleet very soon, as the operating costs of these aging aircraft are getting out of hand. Condor started operations in March 1956 and has its main operational hub at Frankfurt International Airport.